I know I’ve spoken a little about Nesting before, and originally I was going to put it as part of my monthly round up but I didn’t want to wait that long! Here is my full review.
side note: I am still so upset that this didn’t win the Women’s Prize (although I’ve not actually read the winner yet) and even more upset when it didn’t receive a booker nomination.
This book just blew me away. I can’t articulate in a way possible that can even convey my experience listening to the book. I’ve said it before and I think I’ll be saying it for years to come. But Irish Fiction is ELITE. Listening to Irish Fiction is also such a beautiful experience I gravitate towards both paperback books and audio so often.
Nesting, follows Ciara a mother of two (who is pregnant with her third) as leaves her controlling and toxic marriage. With limited funds, no support system in a city with a housing crisis the odds are stacked against her. Ryan, who started off as the funny, charming guy very quickly became controlling and manipulative ensuring that she becomes isolated from friends and family. The author did a really good job of building Ryan’s character and how he so gently began to turn. To the point that Ciara firmly believed that what he was doing no one would notice how harmful it was, that because it wasn’t blatant abuse that others would think that it isn’t bad enough to want to leave and seek safety. Ciara constantly worried that she was over reacting, that she was the issue or the cause to Ryan’s behaviour.
Although Ciara was a character that at times infuriated me I wholeheartedly felt so invested in her journey and her struggles. Before becoming a mother I would have probably applauded her strength to leave a marriage with children, but since having my second and constantly in wonder how the fuck people manage solo, I literally thought that she was amazing in her ability to not only get through the day but to actively seek out a better life for herself and her children.
When she found out she was pregnant with the third I could only imagine the dread she experienced. What I found extremely disappointing was online I read so many reviews that said she was silly for getting pregnant and lots of judgement and blame towards her character. This thread throughout the book I thought was a way to highlight that not every woman has the choice to whether or not she has sex with her husband. She does not have the choice for him to wear protection and, I am guessing that the idea of being on birth control that he might find would also be harmful to her safety. I just wanted to scream at the (mainly women) who were being so shortsighted and missing the whole point of the novel.
Throughout the book we are introduced to other really heartwarming characters, like Cathy, the neighbour in her temporary accommodation. I feel she needs a total shout out. She was imperative to Ciara’s journey and time and time again Ciara could not have survived without her support. If anyone has a Cathy in their lives they are a very lucky person.
During moments like the custody court case I sat still not wanting to move, on knife edge to the judges verdict. I was shocked with some of the results and I really empathised with Ciara.
This book just opened my eyes to how so many woman are utterly trapped in such terrible domestic situations with no money of their own, no support system and government support being so difficult to navigate. It also highlighted to me that the leaving an abusive partner is hard but being able to stay away is another battle that I wouldn't have realised could be so challenging.
I just found this novel so extremely powerful and I really really recommend to read if you want to feel anything whether or not you have children of your own.
Have you read it! Let’s discuss…